Stade and Racing merger called off

Last week Top 14 clubs Racing 92 and Stade Français announced that they will merge to form a new club next season. But after massive backlash from players and stakeholders the clubs have decided to call off the merger citing the unrest of the fans and players to be the reason.

Stade Français players had a strike and refusing to play their Top 14 fixture this weekend which led to Racing’s game also being postponed. Racing 92 president Jacky Lorenzetti explained that it wasn’t the right time for the move.

“I heard and understood the strong reservations expressed in response to this project,” Lorenzetti told the BBC. “In any case, the social, political, cultural, human, and sporting conditions were not in place. Perhaps we had the right plan too soon, only the future will tell.”